Noella banged on her door, screaming, trying to think of anything she could say that might stop Randy in his tracks. Something suddenly came to her. A way to maybe buy a few minutes.

“I told someone else,” Noella said.

Randy looked at her door and smiled, “Yeah, right.”

“Okay, don’t believe me. It’s your life,” Noella said, bluffing. She walked away from the door as if she could care less what Randy did next, then listened, praying the basement wouldn’t echo with another gunshot.

“Who did you tell?” he asked after a long silence.

“Nope, I’m not telling. Not unless you let Sam go.”

“Not gonna happen, honey. Now come say goodbye to your boyfriend.”

No, please, don’t kill Sam.

Noella forced herself to the door. Just as she reached the slot, Randy’s eyes met hers and he again instructed Sam to get on his knees.

Sam surprised both Randy and Noella as he lunged forward, head-butting Randy hard. Everything happened so fast, Noella could barely make out the movements in the dim light.

Josie screamed. Randy fell back against the stairs, dropping the gun. Sam seized the moment and leaped on top of Randy, despite his hands being bound in cuffs, knees first into Randy’s chest.

Randy recovered quickly. He thrust his legs out, sending Sam flying backward hard enough to slam the wall with a sickening thud – so loud, Noella was certain that Sam’s head must have cracked.

Sam slumped to the ground.

Noella screamed, cursing at Randy as he rubbed the front of his head, momentarily dazed from Sam’s attack. He shook it off as anger flushed his face. He didn’t bother getting the gun. Instead, he started repeatedly kicking Sam’s unconscious body.

“Stop it! Stop, you bastard!” Noella screamed.

Randy laughed maniacally as Josie and Noella screamed for him to stop before he killed Sam. He finally did, panting, out of breath. He looked back behind him and found the gun.

No, no, no, no.

He retrieved his gun, then turned around, and aimed at Sam as he slowly approached his motionless body.

Rage, hate, and a million sensations swelled inside Noella. She yelled loud enough to shatter glass, as if her voice alone would knock the door from its hinges, and take Randy with it.

“Die!!!!” she screamed.

And then they were gone.

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK!

Dave is the co-founder of Collective Inkwell, in which he and Sean Platt re-invented serial fiction. Hailing from the quaint town of [REDACTED], Dave's renown for putting children in jeopardy (in his fiction, anyway) has made him world famous.

Serialized Fiction

Right-click here to download the MP3 Click here to subscribe via iTunes Sometimes authors struggle with the very elements that bring their stories to life and add action, excitement, and drama. Today, Johnny, Sean, and Dave talk about how to write compelling and honest dialogue, fight scenes, and arguments that won’t leave your characters feeling […]